Day 40 - June 3, 2022

Well, so much for taking a day away from driving. I started the day following the plan. I wanted to walk around historical downtown Charlottetown and that is what I did. Only it is not that big a place, so I had seen everything I wanted to by noon. Also, I have no luck with things that I want to see being closed. The birthplace of Confederation is closed for a multi year renovation. So, all we got was shot of Bud E. in front of a shrink-wrapped building. Also in front of Government House, the home of the Lieutenant Governor and other places too.

So, we start off with photos from around downtown Charlottetown including Bud E. in a few different spots. Then we head out on the road and…wait for it…two open lighthouses! We just had to climb both and get shots from the top.

Finally, prepare for cuteness overload. On the way home we saw a male fox (I was told it is a male), then a mom fox with three kits. At first, she was leery of the stopped car but after a few minutes decided I wasn’t a threat and I spent about twenty minutes watch and photographing them.

Day 41 - June 4, 2022

Our last day on Prince Edward Island so we completed the last of the Coastal Drives, the eastern one. Along the way I got a couple shots of some Cormorants. These are different than the ones we have at home. There we have the “Double Crested” but these are just Cormorants. Next a stop at a beautiful harbour called Naufrage. There were a pair of Bald Eagles fishing in the bay but too far away for good shots of that. However, they did a fly over which was great.

I spoke with one of the fishing boat owners and they are having a pretty good lobster season. Except of course for fuel prices. Then on to East Point, the easternmost point of PEI. Next a stop at Souris where Bud E. decided he wanted to join the crew of a lobster boat. But, when they told him he couldn’t be the captain or drive the boat he decided against it.

Then a couple more Charlottetown shots including one of the numerous ice cream shops. Next stop, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Day 42 - June 5, 2022

Moving day again. Today we left Charlottetown, PEI and headed for Bridgewater, NS. While crossing the Confederation Bridge I saw a lighthouse that I thought would be a good place to get a shot from. Only I couldn’t find it. So, I stopped at a hose to ask directions which Bruce the Emu and Rodney the Rooster were happy to do (actually it was Scott, their owner but that just ruins the story). However, I still went to the wrong place. Happy accident. Bud E. and I ended up going on a 7 km hike along a wetland.

There were hundreds of songbirds. I could hear them all singing away but, they were all very camera shy. I did manage to get a shot of an Osprey carrying the remnants of breakfast, a Chestnut Sided Warbler (a first for me), a couple Yellow Warblers and an American Redstart (also a first). There was a sign on the trail warning people to be careful as a bear had been spotted in the area. Sure enough, there he was. A small white one. A water drop covered spider web, some dandelion heads, a couple shots of the wetland, a pair of Canada Geese with young and then off to Nova Scotia.

Day 43 - June 6, 2022

Quite a busy day today. We started off trying to find a spot near White Sands Beach resort where I had taken a photo of Joy on a walkway to the beach in fog in 2007. Apparently, these walkways only last a few years because of weather so the search was unsuccessful. However, we did see some beautiful beaches and scenery, another fox, flowers and then took a cable ferry across the LaHave River. Interesting.

Then off to Lunenburg. The Bluenose II was in town but it was closed (shocking). Not to be deterred, Bud E. was able to convince the crew to give him a tour while I stayed ashore. Some guys have all the luck! Then we just walked around town, had lunch and took photos.

Next stop, the memorial to Swiss Air Flight 111. Then on to Peggy’s Cove. The Peggy’s Cove lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in the world, but I decided the world needs more photos of it so that is what I did. We waited for sunset and then drove back to the hotel, about an hour and a half.

Day 44 - June 7, 2022

After getting a few shots of some flowers at the hotel, we had another busy day. It started off with a plan to go to Kejimkujik National Park and then on to Annapolis Royal, but we never got to the second destination. Joy and I came to Kejimkujik in 2007 but it was raining so we didn’t spend much time. Today the weather was terrific! 24º C with a light breeze. Se we just hiked along the Mersey River, stopped for a snack by the lake and generally spent an awesome, relaxing day. I was mesmerized by the little beach by the lake where we stopped. It was absolutely beautiful. There was no one around, it was warm with a slight breeze and when I normally would only stop for a few minutes, we stayed for almost an hour. So quiet and peaceful. Joy would have loved it!

Early in the day I asked one of the park staff what birds I might see and he named a bunch. But, no luck for a long time. I did get some shots of some very colourful dragonflies and later in the day found a Palm Warbler and a Song Sparrow.

Day 45 - June 8, 2022

Warning…plenty of Bud E. sightings today! Since we didn’t make it to Annapolis Royal yesterday, we made the trip today. Annapolis Royal is the second oldest permanent European settlement in North America. Settled in 1603 it is 4 years older than Jamestown, Virginia, and 15 years older that Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The first stop was to watch some school kids on a field fishing trip. The I saw a turtle on the side of the road, so I stopped. I think it was building a nest in the gravel but that is not a good spot for that. When it saw me, it changed it’s mind and returned to the water. A couple shots of some lovely homes, some heavy horses, and some lupins before arriving at Annapolis Royal. The first thing we see is the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. Joy would have been in her glory. We were a little early in the season but still some wonderful flowers and photo ops for Bud E.

Then a walk around a beautiful old town, through Fort Anne (besieged 13 times, changing hands from the French to the English 7 times, the last time was the English victory in 1710), an old theatre, and then a stop for ice cream. Bud E. enjoyed that!

Tomorrow we are off to Cape Breton.

Day 46 - June 9, 2022

“I have a mansion, forget the price

Ain’t never been there, they tell me it’s nice”. Joe Walsh, from “Life’s Been Good”

“I drove the shoreline, in spite of the price

Ain’t never seen there, they tell me it’s nice”. Bud E. Bear, from the drive today.

Our drive today from Bridgewater to West Bay (Cape Breton) along the south shore of Nova Scotia was very foggy. And the forecast is not looking good for the journey around the Cabot Trail.